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Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton, son of Joshua and Ruth (Kingsbury) Edgerton.

Irene Smith, daughter of Obadiah and Irene (Backus) Smith.

Children:

1. Alpheus, b. July 31, 1781; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
2. Phebe, b. June 27, 1783; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
3. Eurydice, b. June 9, 1785; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
4. Lora, b. July 11, 1787; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
5. Loadama, b. November 16, 1789; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
6. Deratha, b. July 13, 1792; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
7. Joseph Kingsbury, b. March 30, 1795; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
8. Dwight, b. 1797, Lebanon, New London Co., CT.
9. Irena, b. 1801; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.
10. Joseph Kingsbury, b. 1801; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.

Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton was born at Norwich, Connecticut on August 4, 1759, the youngest son of Joshua and Ruth (Kingsbury) Edgerton.  He was named for his maternal grandfather, Joseph Kingsbury, who had died just two years previously.

Joseph was raised in Franklin (Norwich), Connecticut and resided there for most of his life, later removing north to Lebanon.  He was married in Norwich on January 10, 1781 to Irene (aka. “Irena”) Smith, daughter of Obadiah and Irene (Backus) Smith, also of Norwich.  Irene was the younger sister of Anna Smith, who had married Joseph’s brother, Uriah, the previous year.  She was born in Norwich on March 10, 1784.

Joseph and Irene had ten children, several of whom number died young.  The first seven children were recorded in the Vital Records of Franklin, Connecticut (VR 1:53).  The marriage of Joseph and Irene, as well as the birth of the eldest son, Alpheus, were recorded in Norwich (VRp I:552).  The births of the youngest three children (Dwight, Irena, and Joseph Kingsbury Jr. (2nd)) were not recorded; it is assumed that they were born in Lebanon, where the family was residing at the time.

The household of “Jos. Kingsbury Edgerton” was recorded in the 1790 Federal Census of New London County, Connecticut (pg. 173), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 16 years and upward”  (Joseph);

1 male “under 16 years”  (son Alpheus); and,

4 females  (wife Irena, and daughters Phebe, Lora and Loadama).

By the year 1800, Joseph had removed with his family to Lebanon, Connecticut – just north of Norwich, in what was at the time within the bounds of Windham County, but is now part of New London County.  Joseph and Irene resided in Lebanon for the remainder of the lives.

The household of “Kingsburry Edgerton” was recorded in the 1800 Federal Census of Lebanon, Windham (now New London) County, Connecticut (pg. 721), with the following enumeration:

1 male “over 45 years of age”  (Joseph);

1 male “of 16 and under 26”  (son Alpheus);

1 male “under 10 years of age”  (son Deratha);

1 female “over 45 years of age”  (wife Irene);

1 female “of 16 and under 26”  (daughter Phebe);

1 female “of 10 and under 16”  (daughter Lora); and,

1 female “under 10 years of age”  (daughter Loadama).

There should actually be two sons “under 10” recorded in this census – Deratha and Dwight.  It is speculated that the census may have been enumerated late, possibly after the February 1, 1801 death of Dwight, thus accounting for his absence.  Two of Joseph’s sons died in Lebanon in 1801 – the aforementioned Dwight, and also eldest son, Alpheus, who died on June 23, 1801.  Both were buried in the Old Lebanon Cemetery.  The two deaths were recorded at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon (ChR 5:165).

The household of “Kingsbury Edgerton” was recorded in the 1810 Federal Census of Lebanon, Windham County, Connecticut (pg. 592), with the following enumeration:

1 male “over 45 years of age”  (Joseph);

1 male “under 10 years of age”  (son Joseph K. Jr.);

1 female “over 45 years of age”  (wife Irene);

1 female “of 26 and under 45”  (daughter Phebe);

2 females “of 16 and under 26”  (daughters Lora and Loadama); and,

1 female “under 10 years of age”  (daughter Irena).

Joseph and Irene Edgerton both died in 1819, less than a month apart.  Irene died on June 23rd, at Franklin, Connecticut.  Her death was recorded in the vital records at Franklin (VR 1:53) and also in the registers of the Franklin Congregational Church (ChR 1:446).  Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton died at Lebanon, Connecticut on July 16, 1819.  His death was recorded in the Franklin Vital Records with the note that he had died “at Lebanon, aged 60 years” (VR 1:53); and also at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon as, “Joseph K. Edgerton, died July 16, 1819” (ChR 5:174).  Neither of the deaths were recorded in the Lebanon Vital Records.

Joseph and his wife were buried at the Old Franklin Plains Cemetery in Franklin, Connecticut, where his parents and many other close relatives are buried.  Their headstones were inscribed:  “Joseph K. Edgerton, died July 16, 1819, aged 60 years”, and “Mrs. Irena Edgerton, wife of Joseph K., died June 23, 1819, aged 55 years”.

The following obituary notice for Mrs. Irene (Smith) Edgerton was published in the Norwich Courier on Wednesday, June 30, 1819:

“At Franklin, MRS. IRENA EDGERTON, wife of Mr. Joseph K. Edgerton, aged 55 years.”

It does not appear the Joseph and Irena Edgerton left any descendants.  Most of their children died young or unmarried.  Only the youngest son, Joseph Kingsbury II, is known to have married (twice), but he also died young (aged 32) and left no issue.  The eldest daughter, Phebe, is currently the only child unaccounted for.

Original Source Documents:

1790 Federal Census – household of Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton; New London Co., CT.

1800 Federal Census – household of Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton; Lebanon, Windham Co. (now New London Co.), CT.

1810 Federal Census – household of Joseph Kingsbury Edgerton; Lebanon, Windham Co. (now New London Co.), CT.

Obituary notice – Mrs. Irene (Smith) Edgerton; Norwich Courier – Wednesday, June 30, 1819.